Making Great Coffee

Brewing coffee with a Bialetti coffee press is one of the simplest ways to enjoy a rich, full-bodied cup - but a few small tweaks can make all the difference. Whether you’re new to the coffee press or just want to fine-tune your technique, these tips will help you get the best out of your Bialetti coffee press.

1. Use fresh coffee - Freshly ground coffee makes a noticeable difference in flavour. For the best results, grind your beans just before brewing.
2. Get the right ratio - For a balanced brew, use 15g of coffee (about 1 tablespoon) per 250ml of water. You can adjust slightly to taste, but this is a great base ratio. 
3. Water temperature matters - Pour hot water just off the boil - around 92 - 96°C. Too hot can burn the coffee; too cool may result in a weak flavour.
   
4. Stir before steeping - After adding the hot water to your Bialetti Coffee Press, give the coffee a good stir. This helps with even extraction and makes pressing smoother.
   
5. Steep for 4 minutes - Let your coffee steep for exactly 4 minutes. Steeping too little results in a weak cup; too long and it can turn bitter.
6. Plunge with ease - Using just one finger, press the plunger down slowly and steadily. If there’s too much resistance, lift the plunger slightly to release pressure before continuing. If it’s still difficult to press, your grind might be too fine or you may have added too much coffee.
7. Pour and enjoy - Pour your coffee straight away. Leaving it to sit in the press can lead to bitterness - best to drink it while it’s fresh and hot.

Brew it the Bialetti way
From coffee presses to premium blends, Bialetti has everything you need for a rich, full-bodied brew. Explore the range and make every morning better.

My Bialetti leaks water or steam out the sides.

• Check the ring, and replace if worn.
  Replacement rings can be purchased from spare parts or your Bialetti stockist.
• Ensure the top of the water chamber and the ring are clean and free from coffee grounds
• Ensure you are not using a grind of coffee that is too fine, and it is subsequently getting caught in the spout where the coffee normally comes out. If it is, get yourself a pipe cleaner, take out the ring and filter and give the upper spout a good clean from the underneath side
• Ensure the coffeemaker is firmly screwed together

Coffee does not come up to the top.

• Check filter plate (4) is clean and clear of debris. Replace if worn.
  Replacement filters can be purchased from spare parts or your Bialetti stockist.
• Check funnel (2) fits snugly into bottom chamber (1) and is not bent out of shape or worn around the edges.
  Replacement funnels can be purchased from spare parts or your Bialetti stockist.
• Ensure the coffee grinds are NOT packed into the funnel as this hinders the flow of the water.
• Your grind may be too coarse or too fine. Do not use a fine espresso grind as this may clog the coffeemaker.

The inside of my coffee maker has gone a white colour.

• This usually happens when the coffeemaker is not dried properly, causing the aluminium to naturally oxidise. To clean the inside, use a dish brush and warm water with a little white vinegar added, and dry thoroughly before storing.

My handle has broken.

• Usually the result of using the handle as a lever to open or close the coffeemaker. Remember to wait for the coffeemaker to cool down and then open by grasping the top and bottom sections and twisting.
  A replacement handle (Moka Express only) can be fitted for a small charge. Please contact us or your Bialetti stockist to arrange this service.

The safety valve is releasing steam and/or pressure.

• The safety valve is an important safety feature of your Bialetti pot.  If steam or pressure is being regularly released from the safety valve, do not ignore as your pot may be blocked, or have a faulty safety valve.
• To check for a blockage, disassemble your pot by removing the ring and filter, and cleaning inside the column of the upper chamber. Then check the funnel to ensure it is not bent nor restricting the flow of water. Finally, located in the middle of the safety valve is a small piston, move the small piston in a circular motion to remove any clogging within the valve potentially caused by lime scale or other sediment. 
• Should after these actions the safety valve continues to activate, cease using your pot immediately and return to your authorised Bialetti stockist for checking/servicing.

There is water left in the bottom chamber.

• Not all the water goes from the bottom to the top as it is impossible to do so. This is because the funnel is designed NOT to touch the bottom of the pot. Otherwise it is difficult for the water to flow under pressure from the bottom chamber, and up the funnel into the top chamber. For this reason, there is always liquid remaining in the bottom chamber after brewing. Typically what remains also includes coffee infused water that has dripped back down from the funnel. This water left in the bottom chamber is perfectly normal and should be discarded once the pot has cooled.

 What size Bialetti Stovetop should I buy?

• The size of your Bialetti stovetop depends on how much coffee you like to drink in any one sitting, how strong you like it and how many people join you. When Bialetti says "2 cup", that is to say your stovetop will produce "two espresso cups" of coffee. An espresso cup of coffee generally amounts to approximately 30mls.
• You must not underfill the water in the base or put too little coffee in the filter to try and achieve a lesser quantity of coffee output because this will affect the pressure and effectiveness of your stovetop. Therefore, when you purchase your Bialetti make sure you are buying the correct size for your typical use. In many Italian household's, there are a couple of sizes in the cupboard to accommodate everyday use, versus when guests are around.
• Often in New Zealand, people like to drink their coffee with milk and often quite strong (like a classic Flat White). If you were to make a Flat White with a Bialetti stovetop, it would take approximately "2 cups" of coffee, and added milk from a Tuttocrema.

Before Use

• Before using the coffeemaker for the first time, do dissemble the pot to check all the parts are present as per the diagram below, and to wash all the parts in warm water.
• We recommended that you throw away the first 2-3 brews.
• It’s really important that you don’t use the handle while unscrewing as this can cause the handle to break.

Cleaning

• When cool separate the top section from the base, wash in warm water and dry thoroughly.
• It’s best not to use detergent when washing the aluminum models as it can taint the aluminum and therefore the coffee. However, mild detergent can be used to clean the stainless steel models if you prefer, and a liquid chrome polish can be used to keep the stainless steel looking new.
• Do not use steel wools or abrasive products as these will discolour or damage the surface of the pot and its parts.
• Periodically clean the inner sides of the column in the top part of the pot (5) ensuring no build up of coffee residues.
• Do not reassemble until all parts are completely dry to avoid oxidation
• Bialetti stovetop espresso makers must not be put in the dishwasher.

Tips/Precautions

• After use, your Bialetti will be hot, naturally causing the metal to expand and difficult to unscrew the base (1) from the top (5).  If you wish to re-use immediately to make another brew, a tip is to run the entire pot under cold water first to cool and make unscrewing easier.
• Check the funnel, filter plate, and ring for wear and tear or damage and replace as required.
• From time to time discolouration or a white deposit may form inside the base. This is generally due to the pot not being properly dried prior to storage, causing the aluminum to naturally oxidise. Scrub with your dish brush in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar to help remove stains.  Remember to dry thoroughly.
• It’s best to store all parts separately to allow air to circulate.
• Never place the coffeemaker on a heat source without water.
• Use a medium-fine grind of your favourite coffee blend. A medium-fine will feel gritty when rubbed between your fingers, not powdery. (Note that a espresso grind purchased from a store for electric espresso machine's is typically too fine and may block your Bialetti).
• Do not use extracts, infusions or instant coffee as they may block the filter plate.
• Your Bialetti pot is designed to be used with full measures of water and coffee, and will not work properly, for instance, if you only half fill the pot with water and coffee. Moka aficionados usually have 3 or 4 different size pots in their kitchen!

Spare Parts

A full range of spare parts are available from this website or your Bialetti stockist including:

• Rings
• Funnels
• Filter plates
• Knobs
• Handles. A replacement handle (Moka Express only) can be fitted for a small charge. Please contact us or your Bialetti stockist to arrange this service.

 Product Warranty

• All Bialetti products carry a two year manufacturing warranty.  This explicitly excludes replacement of parts subject to normal wear and tear.

   

Bialetti aluminium and stainless steel stovetop coffeemakers work on a pressure based system.

1. Before using the coffeemaker for the first time, unscrew the top from the base. 
2. Remove the funnel (2) from the base. Then remove the filter plate (3) and the ring (4). 
3. Wash all parts in warm water and correctly reassemble the top section.
4. Fill the base (1) with water to just below the level of the safety valve.  Be careful not to overfill as the air in the space between the water and the coffee filter is what heats and forces the water up through the coffee. If the water tank is overfilled the result is boiled coffee, with a bitter or burnt taste.
5. Insert the funnel.
6. Loosely fill the funnel with your favourite ground coffee (we recommend a medium-fine grind. Medium-fine will feel gritty when rubbed between your fingers, not powdery. Note that a espresso grind purchased from a store for electric espresso machine's is typically too fine and may block your Bialetti).
   Do NOT tamp coffee down. Remove any coffee grounds on the edge of the funnel.
7. Screw the top section firmly to the base. Avoid using the handle for leverage. 
8. Place the coffeemaker on a low to medium heat. This is most important for induction cooktops as they will quickly overheat the pot if on a high setting. When using on gas adjust the flame so that it does not extend up the side of the pot potentially burning the handle or paintwork.
9. It takes only 3 - 6 minutes, depending on the size of the coffeemaker and the intensity of heat, until it’s ready to serve.
10. Remove immediately from the heat once coffee pot is full.  Do not allow to boil and do not put on full heat as this may cause the coffee to have a burnt taste.
11. Gently give the coffee a stir before pouring.
12. All Bialetti stovetop espresso makers are suitable for use on gas, electric and ceramic hobs.  Stainless steel models are also additionally suitable for induction. (Note: Do check your induction cooktop Manufacturer’s manual to confirm the diameter of the Bialetti pot base will correctly operate on your cooktop.)